3 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, was a place I’d always wanted to visit. The city is the perfect city break destination if you want to get a taste of the Scottish culture (or whiskey)! Read more if you’d like to know what you can do and see in just 3 days in Edinburgh, whose old and new towns are classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

There are plenty of tours and experiences you can take even if you only have 3 days in Edinburgh. I have provided you with a direct link to some of their websites, so you can access the information with a single click. 

How to Get to Edinburgh

By Car: Depending on where you’re based in the UK, you can easily reach Edinburgh by car. It’s definitely the most flexible way to arrive. If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to Edinburgh.

By Public Transport: Alternatively, you can easily reach Edinburgh by train or bus. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares. In addition, you can also travel by local buses within Edinburgh.

Top Tip – If you’re planning on travelling across the UK by train a lot, then check out some Railcard options which allow you to save some pennies on your train fares.

3 Days in Edinburgh – Day 1

1. Walk the mile…The Royal Mile

Stroll along the (almost one mile long) Royal Mile, running from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, in the middle of Edinburgh’s Old Town. You’ll find a great mixture of museums, landmarks, shops, restaurants and cafes and street performers. 

Sights not to miss along the way, namely: 

• St Giles’ Cathedral;
• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions (Admission fee is £16.50, but your ticket is valid all day, so you can leave and come back as many times as you want. Details of the attractions can be found on their website);
• The Real Mary King’s Close (Book an hour-long guided tour for £16.50 and go underground to learn about Edinburgh’s history. You can find more information about the tour on their website);
• Scotch Whisky Experience (Find out more about the different tours you can do on their website).

2. Visit a castle…or two

The city has not one but two castles. Edinburgh Castle, which is located at one end of the Royal Mile, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse which is located at the other end. 

Edinburgh Castle

The castle is located on top of Castle Rock, which was actually formed by a volcanic explosion. So technically, it sits on an extinct volcano. Pretty cool huh? Because of its rich history it’s known as one of the most haunted places in the whole of Scotland. The admission fee to the most besieged place in Britain is £19.50, but it’s cheaper if you buy it online. 

Palace of Holyroodhouse

At the end of the Royal Mile is located the official residence of The Queen in Scotland. As a matter of fact, Her Majesty actually spends a week here every year during the summer. Because it’s open to the public you can visit the palace for £16.50 (except when the Royal Family is there!). 

3. Visit Harry Potter Related Sites

It’s no secret that Edinburgh has a connection with the Harry Potter series in spite of the fact that the city wasn’t a filming location. So, if you’re a fan, then here are some places you shouldn’t miss during your 3 days in Edinburgh:

The Elephant House Cafe

You should start your ‘tour’ at the “birthplace of Harry Potter”. *Spoiler Alert* J.K Rowling actually started writing Harry Potter years before she set foot in this cafe. However, it’s true that she did write some of her other books at this cafe, so make sure you grab a cuppa there too and get inspired. 

Victoria Street and Grassmarket

Victoria Street should be a must see during your 3 days in Edinburgh. This colourful, curved street is said to be J.K Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. Whether that’s true or not, you should explore the countless shops filled with Harry Potter related items, you’ll enjoy it! After wondering in and out of the shops, head over to the Grassmarket area, located close to Victoria Street. This is a lively area of the city filled with pubs and restaurants so the perfect lunch spot. 

Greyfriar’s Kirkyard

The cemetery is famous for a little dog (Greyfriar Bobby) who guarded his master’s grave for years. Some also say (not sure it’s true) that J.K Rowling got ideas for some of her character’s names here. 

4. Find the best sunset spot

Right in the centre of the city is Calton Hill, providing the most incredible and iconic view of Edinburgh. It is a very popular place to watch the sunset from. Make sure you head there early to explore the several monuments and buildings Calton Hill is home to before the sunset show. Just to mention a few, the National Monument, the Nelson Monument, the Robert Burns Monument and the City Observatory. 

3 Days in Edinburgh – Day 2

1. Visit Circus Lane

Put this most photographed location onto your itinerary! This not so hidden gem is located within the Stockbridge area of the city. As it’s a very popular spot I’d suggest going there early in the morning to get the best light and to also avoid crowds. 

You can walk around Circus Lane and take photos within 15-20 minutes, so I suggest linking your visit with the cutest residential area, Dean Village. 

2. Visit a quaint residential area

One of my favourite places in Edinburgh was the picturesque Dean Village. This underrated residential area is located close to the Stockbridge neighbourhood. Once you get to the area, just walk down Hawthonbank Lane and follow the Water of Leith. There’s a bridge that crosses the river from where you can get the iconic shot of the village. You can also get down to the riverbank if you’d like to be in the shot. 

3. Discover your next book

I cannot go to a new place without finding the coolest looking (mainly) secondhand book shop. This has now become a tradition, along with connecting with nature, when I’m on a city break. 

So, if you’re a bookworm just like me, then definitely visit Armchair Books located near the Grassmarket. I guarantee that you’ll find at least one book in this jam-packed shop. 

However, there are other book shops such as the Old Book Shop on Victoria Street, Fruitmarket Gallery on East Market Street (which is also an art gallery) and the Macnaughtan on Elm Row which are also worth a visit.

4. Visit a museum…or a monument

National Museum of Scotland

If you’d like to get to know more about the history of Scotland, then head to the National Museum of Scotland. However, it features other areas like art, design and fashion, the natural world, and science and technologies. The coolest thing is that the museum is the resting place of the REAL Dolly, the Sheep! You can visit the museum for free but of course you can make a small donation if you wish. If they have a major exhibition you have to purchase a ticket which is around the £10 mark. 

Scottish National Gallery

If you’re an art lover, I have great news! The Scottish National Gallery is full of magnificent art pieces from the early Renaissance to the late 19th Century and you can enter totally free of charge. 

Scott Monument

Climb up to Edinburgh’s most iconic landmark, which is also the largest monument dedicated to a writer in the world. It is probably one of the cheapest attractions at only £8 and it provides you with some amazing views over the city. Be aware that you’ll need to climb almost 300 steps if you wish to see the view!

5. Connect with nature

A city break without a trip to a botanic garden just wouldn’t be the same anymore. The botanic garden has about 10,000 plant species across 70 acres divided into different areas. The best part is that it has not 1 but 10 glasshouses! It is free to enter the garden, however you need to pay to visit the glasshouses. 

We visited Edinburgh over the Easter weekend and were blessed with the most amazing weather! As a bonus, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, so the city definitely looked its best.

If you’re lucky with the weather and visit during spring, then definitely spare some time to walk around The Meadows. This public park is located to the south of the city centre and it used to contain a loch (lake) before some drainage work converted the area into a park.

3 Days in Edinburgh – Day 3

Hike an extinct volcano

You cannot leave Edinburgh without climbing to the top of an extinct volcano called Arthur’s Seat. If you’re up for a little exercise, then definitely head over to Holyrood Park to start your 250m moderate hike. At the highest point (Arthur’s Seat) you can have a rest and enjoy the panoramic view of Edinburgh. I promise you will not regret it!

Finally, here is a map of our trip showing the amazing places and sights we managed to visit in 3 days. We spent three nights in the city, but I still feel like I could go back at any time to explore more. Have you been to Edinburgh before? How much of the city did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments section below.